Grip mechanism for a motor vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

A removable seat of a motor vehicle includes first and second cross brackets laterally spaced apart and arranged perpendicular to first and second upper rails located in a floor of the motor vehicle, the first and second cross brackets being connected to the first and second upper rails, a cover connected to and extending between the first and second cross brackets, a handle extending laterally outward from the cover, a spring-loaded lock that holds the first upper rail in place with one of a first lower rail and second lower rail the floor, and a towel bar that releases the lock, enabling the first and second upper rails to slide within the first and second lower rails.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments described herein are related to the mechanical actuationof slidable motor vehicle seats.

BACKGROUND

Motor vehicles such as minivans often include three rows of seats. In aminivan, the third row of seats often folds to form a flat floor, butthere is no room to stow second row seats when the minivan needs to haulcargo. Therefore, second row seats of a minivan are often removable fromthe motor vehicle.

In addition to the functional desire to remove the seats, there is alsoa desire to provide multiple seat configurations for increased userfunctionality. For instance, a center seat may be removed to provide acenter aisle in the vehicle to increase access to the third row ofseats. Additionally, the two outer seats have been movable from oneposition to another by selecting different strikers to which the seatmay be attached. Typically, unused strikers are covered by caps orcarpeting. Moving a seat from one position to another often wasdifficult, particularly given the weight of the seat and the need tomove or remove caps or carpeting. Therefore, a need for an improvedsystem of configuring the second row seats of a minivan was identified.

APPLICATION SUMMARY

The features and advantages described in the specification are not allinclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantageswill be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of thedrawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted thatthe language used in the specification has been principally selected forreadability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selectedto delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.

According to one aspect, a rail and carrier system for a removable seatof a motor vehicle includes a first lower rail fixedly attached to andpositioned laterally along a floor of the motor vehicle, a first upperrail nested with and laterally slidable within the first lower rail, asecond lower rail positioned laterally along the floor of the motorvehicle parallel to the first lower rail and longitudinally rearward ofthe first lower rail, a second upper rail nested with and laterallyslidable within the second lower rail, first and second cross bracketslaterally spaced apart and arranged perpendicular to the first andsecond upper rails, the first and second cross brackets being connectedto the first and second upper rails, and a cover connected to andextending between the first and second cross brackets. A handle extendslaterally outward from the cover. A spring-loaded lock holds the firstupper rail in place with the first lower rail, and a towel bar thatreleases the lock, enabling the first and second upper rails to slidewithin the first and second lower rails.

According to another aspect, a removable seat of a motor vehicleincludes first and second cross brackets laterally spaced apart andarranged perpendicular to first and second upper rails located in afloor of the motor vehicle, the first and second cross brackets beingconnected to the first and second upper rails, a cover connected to andextending between the first and second cross brackets, a handleextending laterally outward from the cover, a spring-loaded lock thatholds the first upper rail in place with one of a first lower rail andsecond lower rail the floor, and a towel bar that releases the lock,enabling the first and second upper rails to slide within the first andsecond lower rails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the interior of a motor vehicle.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the interior of a motor vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a slide rail system.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section along line G-G of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a slide rail system.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lateral slideremovable seat.

FIG. 7 is a cross-section along line A-A of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lateral slideremovable seat.

FIG. 9 is a cross-section along line B-B of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cross bracket andhandle.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a locking mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a cross-section along line C-C of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a portion of an embodiment of a lower rail.

FIG. 14 is a close-up of a portion of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a forward perspective view of an embodiment of a removableseat.

FIG. 16 is a side perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a cross-section along line D-D of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the slide rail system.

FIG. 19 is a cross-section along line E-E of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a top view of a towel bar of the slide rail system.

FIG. 21 is a cross-section along line F-F of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a side view of an embodiment of a towel bar bracket.

FIG. 23 depicts the operation of the embodiment of the towel bar.

FIG. 24 is a close up of Part A of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a close up of Part B of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a close up of Part C of FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a side perspective view of the end of an embodiment of therail system.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a rail end bracket.

FIG. 29 is a top perspective view of the end of an embodiment of therail system.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the side of an embodiment of the motorvehicle.

FIG. 31 is a top view of the embodiment of the side of a motor vehicle.

FIG. 32 is a top view of the embodiment of the side of a motor vehicleshowing an embodiment of the side garnish.

FIG. 33 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a sidegarnish for a motor vehicle.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the slide rail system.

FIG. 35 is a perspective view of a spacer.

FIG. 36 is a table of an embodiment of seat positions.

FIG. 37 is a top view of one embodiment of seat positions.

FIG. 38 is a top view of another embodiment of seat positions.

FIG. 39 is a top view of another embodiment of seat positions.

FIG. 40 is a top view of another embodiment of seat positions.

FIG. 41 is a top view of another embodiment of seat positions.

FIG. 42 is a top view of another embodiment of seat positions.

FIG. 43 front view of an embodiment of a seat.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lateral slideremovable seat.

FIG. 45 is cross-section along line H-H of FIG. 44.

FIG. 46 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a lateral slideremovable seat in a folded position.

FIG. 47 is a cross-section along line J-J of FIG. 46.

FIG. 48 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a lateral slideremovable seat in a folded and rotated position.

FIG. 49 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of a lateral slideremovable seat in a folded and rotated position.

FIG. 50 is a cross section along line K-K of FIG. 48.

FIG. 51 is a front view of an embodiment of a front and center removableseat.

FIG. 52 is a close up of a portion of FIG. 51.

FIG. 53 is a cross-section along line L-L of FIG. 52.

FIG. 54 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an ISOFIX cap.

FIG. 55 is a side view of a portion of a removable seat.

FIG. 56 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an inner cover of aremovable seat.

FIG. 57 is a perspective view of a portion of a seat illustrated in FIG.43.

FIG. 58 is an exploded view of a garnish and seatbelt mechanism for aremovable seat.

FIG. 59 is a rear view of a garnish and seatbelt mechanism for aremovable seat.

FIG. 60 is a cross section along line M-M of FIG. 59.

FIG. 61 is a close up of a portion of FIG. 60.

The figures depict various embodiments of the embodiments for purposesof illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize fromthe following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structuresand methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing fromthe principles of the embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments are described with reference to the figures in which likereference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.Also in the figures, the left most digits of each reference numbercorresponds to the figure in which the reference number is first used.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the embodiments described herein aredirected to a second row seat system 112 for a motor vehicle 100. In theembodiments illustrated in the FIGS. 1-2, the motor vehicle 100 is aminivan, although any other type of vehicle with removable seats 114 mayinclude embodiments of the second row seat system 112.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the motor vehicle 100 has a floor 116 thatis supported by a body 118. As also shown, there is a front row of seats120. Shown in FIG. 1 are two individual seats 122, 124, with a foldingtray 126 that may lower to the side of the passenger seat 124 to createa walkway to the rear of the motor vehicle 100. The bases 200 of the twofront seats 122, 124 are fixedly secured the floor 116 of the motorvehicle 100. The seat bases 200 and cushions 202 of each of each of thefront seats 122, 124 may be raised and lowered in a vertical directionbetween a maximum and minimum height, moved forward and rearwardlongitudinally between a maximum forward and maximum rearward position,and the seatback 204 may be reclined between an upright position to afully reclined position in manners known to those skilled in the art.For example, these movements may be accomplished mechanically by theseat operator as known in the art, or through actuation of a powerswitch 206 known in the art.

Located behind the front row of seats 120 is the second row seat system112. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the second row seat system112 includes a left seat 130, a middle seat 132, and a right seat 134.Each of the three seats 130, 132, 134 is removable from the motorvehicle 100, as will be discussed. When the middle seat is removed 132,the left seat 130 and right seat 134 are additionally slidable laterallyas discussed herein.

The left and right seats 130, 134 are supported on a front rail system300 and a rear rail system 302 that extend laterally across the floor116 between the left side 136 of motor vehicle 100 and the right side138 of the motor vehicle 100 that are illustrated in FIG. 3.

The front rail system 300 includes a front lower rail 304 mountedlaterally across the motor vehicle 100 within and spanning the entirewidth of the floor 116. The front lower rail 304 is generally U-shaped,with the ends 400, 402 folded inwardly and then downwardly, creating aU-shaped cross sectional profile with a generally open center portion404 and two substantially, but not completely closed upper portions 406,408.

The front rail system 300 further includes two front upper rails 306,308 that are nested within the portions of the front lower rail 304.Each of the front upper rails 306, 308 have a lower portion 410 that hasa cross section that is generally UU-shaped, with the inner ends 412,414 of the UU-cross section being connected, and the outer ends 416, 418of the UU-cross section being nested through the openings 420, 422 andin the upper portions 406, 408 of the front lower rail 304. Rollers 424,426 are connected to the outer ends 416, 418 of each of the front upperrails 306, 308. The rollers 424, 426 are positioned to engage the closedupper portions 406, 408 of the front lower rail 304. The rollers 424,426 are oriented in a lateral direction to enable each of the frontupper rails 306, 308 to slide laterally within the front lower rail 304.

The inner ends 412, 414 of the UU-cross section of each front upper rail306, 308 extend upwardly beyond the height of the outer ends 416, 418 ofthe UU-cross section. The inner ends 412, 414 are either connected to orformed integrally with each other. Further, the inner ends 412, 414 areeither connected to or formed integrally with an upper portion 310, 312of each of the front upper rails 306, 308. Connections may be made byknown methods, including, but not limited to, welding, mechanicalconnections such as rivets, or any other method known to one skilled inthe art.

The rear rail system 302 includes a rear lower rail 314 mountedlaterally across the motor vehicle 100, spanning the entire width of thefloor 116. The rear lower rail 314 is generally U-shaped, with the ends430, 432 folded inwardly and then downwardly, creating a U-shaped crosssectional profile with a generally open center portion 434 and twosubstantially, but not completely closed upper portions 436, 438.

The rear rail system 302 further includes two rear upper rails 316, 318that are nested within the portions 436, 438 of the rear lower rail 314.Each of the rear upper rails 316, 318 are have a generally UU-shapedcross section, with the inner ends 442, 444 of the UU-cross sectionbeing connected, and the outer ends 446, 448 of the UU-cross sectionbeing nested through the openings 450, 452 and in the upper portions436, 438 of the rear lower rail 314. Rollers 454, 456 are connected tothe outer ends 446, 448 of each of the rear upper rails 316, 318. Therollers 454, 456 are positioned to engage the closed upper portions 436,438 of the rear lower rail 314. The rollers 454, 456 are oriented in alateral direction to enable each of the rear upper rails 316, 318 toslide laterally within the rear lower rail 314.

The inner ends 442, 444 of the UU-cross section of each rear upper rail316, 318 extend upwardly beyond the height of the outer ends 446, 448 ofthe UU-cross section. The inner ends 442, 444 are either connected to orformed integrally with each other. Further, the inner ends 442, 444 areeither connected to or formed integrally with an upper portion 320, 322of each of the rear upper rails 316, 318. Connections may be made byknown methods, including, but not limited to, welding, mechanicalconnections such as rivets, or any other method known to one skilled inthe art. The upper portions 310, 312, 320, 322 of each of the front andrear upper rails 306, 308, 316, 318 extend the lateral length of each ofthe front and rear upper rails 306, 308, 316, 318.

Rail covers 460, 462 extend from a left lateral end 340, 344 of thefront and rear lower rails 304, 314 to the right end 342, 346 of thefront and rear lower rails 304, 314. The rail covers 460, 462 are madeof a flexible plastic polymer with a slit 464 down the middle thatextends from the left lateral end 340, 344 to the right lateral end 342,346 of the front and rear lower rails 304, 314. The inner ends 412, 414,442, 444 of the UU-Cross section of the upper rails 306, 308, 316, 318extend through up through the slit 464. The upper rails 306, 308, 316,318 are free to move laterally, with the flexible material of the railcovers 460, 462 flexing around the inner ends 412, 414, 442, 444 of theUU-cross section of the upper rails 306, 308, 316, 318 move laterallythrough the slit 464 in the rail cover 460, 462. The rail covers 460,462 act to prevent large debris from being introduced into the lowerrails 304, 314 that may interfere with the lateral movement of the upperrails 306, 308, 316, 318.

The front and rear upper rails 306, 308, 316, 318 on the same side ofthe motor vehicle 100 are connected by cross brackets 350, 352, 354,356. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, two cross brackets 350,352, 354, 356 extend from the opposite ends of each of the upperportions 310, 312, of the front upper rails 306, 308 to thecorresponding opposite ends of the each of the upper portions 320, 322of the rear upper rails 316, 318. The cross brackets 350, 352, 354, 356may be connected to the upper portions 310, 312, 320, 322 of the upperrails 306, 308, 316, 318 may any known means such as nut and boltfasteners, rivets, welds, and the like. Each of the cross brackets 350,352, 354, 356, front upper rail 306, 308 and rear upper rail 316, 318that are connected in a square-like manner when viewed from above form aleft sliding carrier 360 and a right sliding carrier 362.

Each of the cross brackets 350, 352, 354, 356 include a front striker470 and a rear striker 472. Each front striker 470 is positioned abovethe upper portion 310, 312 of the front upper rail 306, 308. Each rearstriker 472 is positioned above the upper portion 320, 322 of the rearupper rail 316, 318. The strikers 470, 472 allow for the removable seats114 to be attached to the front rail system 300 and rear rail system302.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the left sliding carrier 360 further includesa left cover 500. The left cover 500 covers the entire left slidingcarrier 360 with the exception of four openings 510 that leave the fourstrikers 470, 472 of the left sliding carrier 360 exposed. The rightsliding 362 carrier further includes a right cover 502. The right cover502 covers the entire right sliding carrier 502 with the exception offour openings 510 that leave the four strikers 470, 472 of the rightsliding carrier 502 exposed.

The left cover 500 and right cover 502 are horizontally flat. Asillustrated in FIGS. 6-9, at a longitudinally rearward position 600generally above the rear upper rail 316, 318 of each sliding carrier360, 362, the covers 500, 502 each gradually slope downward in avertical and rearward direction to a height generally equal to that ofthe floor 116. The sloped angle of the cover 500, 502 allows cargo to beloaded into the motor vehicle 100 from the rear of the motor vehicle 100without damaging the cover 500, 502. Additional, the sloped angle of therearward portion 602 of the cover 500, 502 provides additional leg roomfor a passenger sitting in a third row of seats 140 in the motor vehicle100 behind the removable seat 114 by providing extra room for shoes 800,as illustrated in FIGS. 8-9.

The left sliding carrier 360 further includes a handle 370 that isattached to the laterally outward left cross bracket 350 as shown inFIG. 10. The right sliding carrier 362 also includes a handle 372 thatis attached to the laterally outward right cross bracket 356 in a mannerthe same as the left handle 370 shown in FIG. 10. The handles 370, 372are not covered by the covers 500, 502 of the sliding carriers 360, 362.

The following embodiments are going to be described with respect to theright sliding carrier 362. In each situation, the left sliding carrier360 features the same described embodiment.

The sliding carrier 362 includes a lock mechanism 1100 for locking thesliding carrier 362 into place. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.11-14, the front lower rail 304 includes five (5) sets of three (3)holes 1300, 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308 located in an inner wall 1200 of thefront lower rail 304 that are spaced to the right laterally from alongitudinal centerline CL of the motor vehicle 100 for use with theright sliding carrier 362, and an additional five (5) sets of three (3)holes (not shown) located in the inner wall 1200 of the front lower rail304 that are spaced to the left laterally from the longitudinalcenterline CL of the motor vehicle 100 for use with the left slidingcarrier 360. Each set of three (3) holes 1300, 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308 isspaced laterally apart from each other and correspond to a lockingposition of the sliding carrier 362. Within each set of three (3) holes1300, 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308, as illustrated in FIG. 14 with respect tothe first set of the three (3) holes 1300, the distance d₁ between thefirst hole 1400 and second hole 1402 is the same as the distance d₂between the second hole 1402 and the third hole 1404. Each set of three(3) holes 1300, 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308 that make up each set of five (5)holes on each side of the front lower rail 304 are similarlyconstructed.

Located in the upper portion 310, 312 of the front upper rail 306, 308of each of the sliding carriers 360, 362 is a lock 1102. The lock 1102,when viewed from the side in FIG. 12, has a generally C-shaped crosssection. The lower portion 1202 of the lock 1102 includes three lockingmember extensions 1104. The three locking member extensions 1104correspond with and fit into the three (3) sets of holes 1300, 1302,1304, 1306, 1308 in the lower rail 304 and lock the sliding carrier 362into place. A spring (not shown) biases the lock 1102 and locking memberextensions 1104 against the inner wall 1200 of the upper front rail 304.As the sliding carrier 362 slides along the upper front rail 304, thelocking member extensions 1104 are forced into a set of three (3) holes1300, 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308 when the three locking member extensions1104 come into alignment with one of the sets of three (3) holes 1300,1302, 1304, 1306, 1308.

As illustrated in FIGS. 15-19, beneath the handle 372 is located a towelbar 1500 used to unlock the lock mechanism 1100 of the sliding carrier362, which allows the sliding carrier 362 to slide back and forth alongthe lower rails 304, 314. The grip 1502 of the towel bar 1500 is locatedunderneath the handle 372 that extends from the sliding carrier 362. Thetowel bar 1500 is ergonomically positioned such that it is equallyaccessible from above, illustrated by arrow A, through the opening 1700in the handle 372 or from below, illustrated by arrow B, underneath thehandle 372. The towel bar 1500, from either direction, as illustrated byarrow A and arrow B, may be actuated with the normal grip movement of anadult. Additionally, the towel bar 1500 location is designed to not beoperable by a small child to prevent accidental actuation of the towelbar 1500 and release of the locking mechanism 1100 by a small child. Thespan d₃ of the grip in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19 is 65.5 mm,which exceeds the maximum grip of a 97^(th) percentile 5-year old child.

As illustrated in FIGS. 20-26, the towel bar mechanism 2000 includes thetowel bar 1500 that is gripped by the user. The ends 2002, 2004 of thetowel bar 1500 are each connected to a perpendicular bar 2006, 2008 thatextends beneath the cover 502. The perpendicular bars 2006, 2008 are inturn connected to the lock mechanism 1100. When actuated, the towel bar1500 releases the lock 1102 from one of sets of three (3) holes 1300,1302, 1304, 1306, 1308, thereby allowing the sliding carrier 362 and theseat 134 on top thereof to slide back and forth laterally along thefront and rear lower rails 304, 314.

The perpendicular bars 2006, 2008 each have a first pin 2400 and asecond pin 2402 that fit within a bracket 2100 that limit their motion.The bracket 2100 has a first opening 2200 and second opening 2202 thatreceive the first pin 2400 and second pin 2402 respectively. The secondopening 2202 is an angled oval opening. The angle of the second opening2202 is upward in the laterally outward direction in the direction ofarrow C. The second pin 2402 in the second opening 2202 also acts as therotation point for the perpendicular bars 2006, 2008 as the towel bar1500 is lifted outward and upward.

FIG. 25 is an expanded view of the first opening 2200, which is theshape of a relatively obtuse triangle with rounded rather than sharpcorners 2500, 2502, 2504. One side is an obtuse rounded corner 2500. Atangent t drawn at the apex 2506 of the obtuse rounded corner 2500 is anangle α. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 25, the angle α is 45°.The side 2520 opposite the obtuse rounded corner 2500 may have a veryslight arcuate shape. The first pin 2400 in the first opening 2200operates to force the towel bar 1500 to move outward and upwardly whenactuated. The shape of the opening 2200 is tuned to insure the motionpath of the pin 2400 towel bar 1500 is fluid, as illustrated by arrow D.

The upward and outward motion of the towel bar 1500 causes the laterallyinward ends 2404 of the perpendicular bars 2006, 2008 to move outwardand upward. Locking bars 2406 are rotationally connected by the secondpin 2402 to the inward ends 2404 of the perpendicular bars 2006, 2008.The outward and upward motion causes the locking bars 2406 to moveoutward and downward. The downward motion acts to pull the spring-biasedlocking mechanism 1100, which is connected to the locking bars 2406, outof one of the sets of three (3) holes 1300, 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308.

By limiting the motion of the towel bar 1500, the towel bar 1500 can becontrolled to move in an ergonomically advantageous motion by requiringthe towel bar 1500 to move outward and upward consistent with theclosing grip motion of the user. The limited movement of the towel bar1500, particularly the inability of the towel bar 1500 to move laterallyinward, helps to prevent the lock mechanism 1100 from being unlocked ina side impact, as illustrated in FIG. 23, because the locking bar 2406is prevented from lowering unless the towel bar 1500 moves outward andupward, which is opposite of motion caused by a side impact.

As illustrated in FIGS. 27-29, the front and rear lower rails 304, 314include a rail end bracket 2700 at each end 340, 342, 344, 346 of therails 304, 314. The bracket has a generally U-shaped end 2704 thatmatches the U-shaped cross sectional profile of the ends 400, 402, 430,432 of the lower rails 304, 314, with a center portion 2706 and twoupper portions 2708, 2710. An L-shaped extension 2712 extends from thebottom 2714 of the center portion 2706. A first section 2716 of theL-shaped extension 2712 is attached to the bottom surface 2718 of thelower rail 304, 314. The attachment may be by any method known to oneskilled in the art, including, but not limited to, a rivet 2900 as shownin FIG. 29, nut and bolt fastener, weld, and the like. The secondsection 2720 of the L-shaped extension 2712 extends upward from thefirst section 2716 of the L-shaped extension 2712. The second section2720 may extend up to, but not higher than, the top 2722 of the lowerrails 304, 314. The second section 2720 acts to block the slidingcarriers 360, 362 at the lateral ends 340, 342, 344, 346 of the lowerrails 304, 314. The U-shaped end 2704 of each rail end bracket 2700 actsas a cap at the end of the lower rails 304, 314 to prevent theintroduction of dirt or debris into the substantially closed upperportions 406, 408, 436, 438 of the lower rails 304, 314 that wouldinterfere with the free movement of the upper rails 306, 308, 316, 318within the lower rails 304, 314.

As illustrated in FIGS. 30-33, at the ends 340, 342, 344, 346 of thelower rails 304, 314 on either side 136, 138 of the motor vehicle 100 islocated a step garnish 3000 that covers the ends 340, 342, 344, 346 ofthe lower rails 304, 314 and rail end brackets 2700. The step garnish3000 is typically installed after the removable seats 114 are installed.In the past, the step garnish 3000 was installed by lowering the stepgarnish 3000 downwardly into place. However, the handles 370, 372 on thesliding carriers 360, 362 interfere with a downward installation. Inorder to solve this interference problem, the step garnish 3000 includesan inner step garnish 3002, which is installed from the side so that itfits underneath the handle 370, 372 of the sliding carriers 360, 362, asillustrated in FIG. 33. A second, outer step garnish 3004, whichincludes a cut out clearance shape 3006 for the handles 370, 372, isinstalled in the traditional manner. The exposed portion 3008 of theinner step garnish 3002 is designed to match the clearance shape 3006 ofthe outer step garnish 3004. When the outer step garnish 3004 isinstalled over the inner step garnish 3002, the exposed portion 3008 ofthe inner step garnish 3002 and the outer step garnish 3004 create acomplete finished surface 3010 that is indistinguishable from a singlepiece step garnish. The finished surface 3010 may include ridges 3012 tocreate a greater friction surface to aid a user to enter or exit themotor vehicle 100. The step garnishes 3000 may be connected to the motorvehicle 100 using tappet screws, rivets, nuts and bolts, interferencefit fasteners, or by any other method known to one skilled in the art.

Further movement of the two sliding carriers 360, 362 may be controlledby inclusion of a spacer 3400 with one or both of the front or rearlower rails 304, 314. The spacer 3400 includes first and second plasticshoes 3500, 3502 that are located with the closed upper portions 406,408, 436, 438 of the front and rear lower rails 304, 314. The plasticshoes 3500, 3502 are connected by a metal bracket 3504. The spacers 3400are free to slide between the left and right sliding carriers 360, 362.The spacers 3400 prevent the two sliding carriers 360, 362 from cominginto contact at a position along the sliding carriers 360, 362overlapping slide range 3402. The spacers 3400 help maintain a safedistance between the removable seats 114 on the sliding carriers 360,362. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 34-35, the spacer 3400maintains a safe 15 mm gap between the sliding carriers 360, 362 toprevent pinching between the seats 114. The plastic may be anyformulation known to those skilled in the art to be durable andrelatively low friction.

The left seat 130 on top of the left sliding carrier 360 and the rightseat 134 on top of the right sliding carrier 362 may each slide betweenfive (5) possible positions as illustrated by the table in FIG. 36. Thefive (5) possible positions correspond with the five (5) sets of three(3) holes 1300, 1302, 1304, 1306, 1308 located in the inner wall 1200 ofthe front lower rail 304 that are spaced to the right laterally from alongitudinal centerline CL of the motor vehicle 100 for use with theright sliding carrier 362, and the five (5) sets of three (3) holes (notshown) located in the inner wall 1200 of the front lower rail 304 thatare spaced to the left laterally from the longitudinal centerline CL ofthe motor vehicle 100 for use with the left sliding carrier 360. On thetable in FIG. 36, the position 445B corresponds to the first set ofthree (3) holes 1300. The position 363B corresponds to the second set ofthree (3) holes 1302. The position 281B corresponds to the third set ofthree (3) holes 1304. The position 199B corresponds to the fourth set ofthree (3) holes 1306. The position 117B corresponds to the fifth set ofthree (3) holes 1308. The positions −445B, −363B, −281B, −199B, and−117B correspond to the mirror image five (5) sets of three (3) holes onthe left side 136 of the motor vehicle 100. The table in FIG. 36represents the possible locations of the left seat 130 and right seat134 for each of the positions. For example, if the left seat 130 is inposition −117B, the only position for the right seat 134 is 445B, asshown in FIG. 37. FIGS. 37-42 show some possible seating positions forthe embodiment of the motor vehicle 100 as described herein. FIG. 38shows the left seat 130 in position −445B, while the right seat 134 isin position 445B. In this positioning, the center seat 132 is alsoinstalled. FIG. 39 shows the left seat 130 in position −445B, while theright seat 134 is in position 445B and the center seat 132 is removed.FIG. 40 shows the left seat 130 in position −363B, while the right seat134 is in position 363B. This arrangement brings the two seats 130, 134nearer together toward the centerline CL of the motor vehicle 100 andaway for the left 136 and right 138 sides. FIG. 41 shows the left seat130 in position −199B, while the right seat 134 is in position 363B. Inthis example, the two seats 130, 134 are still side-by-side, but the twoseats are shifted laterally leftward compared to the example shown inFIG. 37 away from the right side 138 of the motor vehicle 100. FIG. 42shows the left seat 130 in position −281B, while the right seat 134 isin position 281B. In this example, the two seats 130, 134 areside-by-side along the CL of the motor vehicle 100. The only restrictionon how far the left sliding carriers 360 can slide across the lowerrails 304, 314 is the position of the right carrier 362 and the spacers3400 that separate the two. Additionally, the only restriction on howfar the right sliding carriers 362 can slide across the lower rails 304,314 is the position of the left carrier 360 and the spacers 3400 thatseparate the two.

As illustrated in FIGS. 37 and 41, the left sliding carrier 360 or theright sliding carrier (not illustrated) may cross the longitudinalcenterline CL of the motor vehicle 100 if space is available.

Two removable seats 114, a left seat 130 and right seat 134, aredesigned to be secured to the sliding carriers 360, 362, the left seat130 on left sliding carrier 360, and the right seat 134 on the rightsliding carrier 362. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the seats 130, 134 areconnected to the sliding carriers 360, 362 via hook fasteners 474 aroundthe front strikers 470 and hook and lock fasteners 476 that hook aroundthe rear strikers 472 located on the cross brackets 350, 352, 354, 356and exposed through the openings 510 in the covers 500, 502 of thesliding carriers 360, 362. The hook fasteners 474 and the hook and lockfasteners 476 are of a type known to those skilled in the art.

As illustrated in FIGS. 43-47, during typical operation of the removableseats 114, the removable seat 114 is moved from an upright position,illustrated in FIGS. 43-45, to a folded position, illustrated in FIGS.46-47, by actuation of a first lever 4400 on the seat 114. Located atthe back 4402 of the seat cushion 202 below the seat back 204 is a LATCHstriker 4404 used for the LATCH car seat system that is standard inautomobiles. When the seat back 204 is folded down upon actuation of thefirst lever 4400, a seat handle 4406 is exposed that is on the bottom4408 of the seat back 204 when the seat back 204 is upright. By hidingthe seat handle 4406 when the seat 114 is in the upright position,improper attachment of a LATCH enable car seat may be avoided by onlyhaving the LATCH striker 4404 visible.

As illustrated in FIGS. 48-50, in order to remove the seat 114, a lock478 is released on the rear hook and lock fasteners 476 by actuating asecond lever 4900 in the seat 114. When the lock 478 is released, theuser may grasp the seat handle 4406 and lift the rear 4402 of the seat114. Lifting the rear 4402 of the seat 114 from the rear strikers 472allows the seat 114 to be rotated about and axis a₁ that runs throughthe front strikers 470. When the seat 114 reaches an appropriate angleα₁, the front hooks 474 may be removed from the front strikers 470, andthe seat 114 is removed.

A bar 4800 extends from the left front hook fastener 474 to the rightfront hook fastener 474′ parallel to and around the axis a₁ through thestrikers 470. As the user rotates the seat 114 forward to remove thefront hook fasteners 474, 474′, the bar 4800 rotates forward and down asit rotates about axis a₁ until it contacts the cover 500. The shape ofthe forward portion 5000 of the cover 500 is designed so that the bar4800 contacts the front portion 5000 of the cover 500 when the seat 114has been rotated an angle α₁ about the axis a₁. In the embodimentillustrated, angle α₁ is approximately 45°, although the angle α₁ may betuned based upon the geometry and available space of the motor vehicle100. Once the bar 4800 contacts the cover 500, the user is preventedfrom rotating the seat 114 any further. This operation controls thelocation of the seat when the user is removing the seat to be in anoptimum position. This also prevents the seat 114 from contacting anyother interior components by rotating too far forward.

As illustrated in FIGS. 51-54, when the center seat 132 is in theupright position, the center seat 132 includes a left ISOFIX bar (notshown), which is located beneath a cap 5100 and a right ISOFIX bar (notillustrated) for use with a LATCH-enabled child seat. The seat 132includes a cap 5100 that covers each bar when the LATCH system is not inuse to prevent users from accidentally getting straps or the like hookedon the ISOFIX bars. When the left removable seat 130 or the rightremovable seat 134 is positioned up against the center seat 132,removing the cap 5100 to expose the ISOFIX bar can be problematic. Inorder to make removal of the cap 5100 easier for a user, the cap 5100includes a scoop portion 5200 on the grip portion 5202 of the cap 5100.The grip portion 5202 not only includes a scoop portion 5200 in the side5204 of the cap 5100, but also an indented portion 5206 longitudinallyforward of the scoop out shape 5200 to further increase access by auser's hand. As illustrated in FIG. 53, the indented portion 5206longitudinally forward of the scoop portion 5200 has a lateral width w₁less than a lateral width w₂ of the cap body 5300 and greater than alateral width w₃ of the scoop portion 5200.

In addition to the cap 5100 on the ISOFIX bar on the center seat 132,the laterally L-shaped inner cover 5208 of the seat frame 5500 of theleft and right seats 130, 134 has a smooth lower external surface 5600and a smooth and recessed external upper surface 5602 that is laterallyopposite the ISOFIX cap 5100 of the center seat 132 that providesadditional clearance for a user to access the grip portion 5202 of thecap 5100. As illustrated in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 51-56, theminimum gap d₃ between the center seat 132 and left seat 130 or rightseat 134 is 16 mm, but the recessed external upper surface 5602 of theinner cover 5208 of the seat frame 5500 of the left seat 130 or rightseat 134, and the scoop portion 5200 of the cap 5100 over the ISOFIXbar, at the location of the indention portion 5206 longitudinallyforward of the scoop portion 5200 provides a clearance d₄ of 30 mm forthe user to grip and remove the ISOFIX cap 5100.

Another feature of the removable seats 114 is the necessity of providinga seatbelt 4300 for the user as illustrated in FIGS. 43 and 57-61.Because the removable seats 114 are slidable between five separatepositions as previously described, the seatbelt 4300 is integrallyprovided within the removable 114 by methods known to those skilled inthe art. However, at the top of the seat back 204, a seatbelt mechanism4302 is provided for protecting the seatbelt 4300 and to transition theseatbelt 4300 from within the seat 114 to the outside of the seat 114,as illustrated in FIG. 60. The seatbelt mechanism 4302 includes anarcuate slot 4304 through which the seatbelt 4300 extends and ispresented to the user for use. The arcuate slot 4304 includes anextended base 5800 that sits on top of and is connected to a bracket5802. The extended base 5800 also includes a raised and curved section5804 over which the seatbelt 4300 moves and transitions from a verticalorientation to a horizontal orientation. The seatbelt mechanism 4302also includes a garnish 5700 that protects the seatbelt 4300 during useand when the seat 114 is removed. The arcuate slot 4304 is designed toprevent the seatbelt 4300 from reversing the side presented to the userand becoming twisted or tangled.

Due to position of the garnish 5700, there is a need for a method andapparatus to attach the garnish 5700 to the seatbelt mechanism 4302 thatis both easy to install and durable during use of the seat 114 in theintended manner. As shown in FIGS. 57-61, the garnish 5700 primarily isconstructed of a solid molded plastic piece that includes an arcuateopening 5806, a cap opening 5808, and an interference fit fastener 6000that extends from the bottom of the garnish 5700. The interference fitfastener 6000 is inserted into a slot (not shown) in the seatbeltmechanism 4302. The arcuate slot 4304 fits into the arcuate opening 5806of the garnish 5700.

A cap 5702 is provided for completing attachment of the garnish 5700 tothe seatbelt mechanism 4302. The cap 5702 is constructed of a singlepiece that includes a base portion 6100, a living hinge 6102, and anouter cover 6104. The base portion includes, in the embodiment shown inthe FIGS. 58-61, includes two holes 5810 that correspond to two holes5812 in the cap opening 5808 of the garnish 5700 and two holes 5814 inthe bracket 5802. Tapping screws 5816 are used to connect the baseportion 6100 of the cap 5702 and garnish 5700 to the bracket 5802. Theouter cover 6104 of the cap 5702 is then folded over downwardly at theliving hinge 6102, as shown by arrow b in FIG. 61, and the outer cover6104, now folded over and parallel with the base portion 6100, coversthe base portion 6100. The outer cover 6104 has a tapered end 6106 thatsnaps into a hook surface 6108 of the lower edge 5818 of the cap opening5808 of the garnish 5700. The tapered end 6106 creates an interferencefit with the hook surface 6108 to hold the cover 5702 in place.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or to “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiments is included in at least oneembodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “anembodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment.

In addition, the language used in the specification has been principallyselected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not havebeen selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to beillustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the embodiments, whichis set forth in the claims.

While particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated anddescribed herein, it is to be understood that the embodiments are notlimited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein andthat various modifications, changes, and variations may be made in thearrangement, operation, and details of the methods and apparatuses ofthe embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of theembodiments as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A rail and carrier system for a removable seat ofa motor vehicle, comprising: a first lower rail fixedly attached to andpositioned laterally along a floor of the motor vehicle; a first upperrail nested with and laterally slidable within the first lower rail; asecond lower rail positioned laterally along the floor of the motorvehicle parallel to the first lower rail and longitudinally rearward ofthe first lower rail; a second upper rail nested with and laterallyslidable within the second lower rail; first and second cross bracketslaterally spaced apart and arranged perpendicular to the first andsecond upper rails, the first and second cross brackets being connectedto the first and second upper rails; a cover connected to and extendingbetween the first and second cross brackets; a handle extendinglaterally outward from the cover; a spring-loaded lock that holds thefirst upper rail in place with the first lower rail; and a towel barthat releases the lock, enabling the first and second upper rails toslide within the first and second lower rails.
 2. The rail and carriersystem of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises: a handle grip portionhaving a first end and a second end; and first and second attachmentportions that extend from the first end and the second end of the gripportion to attach the grip portion to the cover.
 3. The rail and carriersystem of claim 2 wherein the towel bar comprises: a towel bar gripportion having a first end and a second end; a first perpendicular barextending laterally inward from the first end of the towel bar grip; asecond perpendicular bar extending laterally inward from the second endof the towel bar grip; and wherein the first perpendicular bar andsecond perpendicular bar actuate the spring-loaded lock to when thetowel bar grip is gripped upward and outward.
 4. The rail and carriersystem of claim 3 wherein the towel bar grip portion is accessible underthe handle grip portion.
 5. The rail and carrier system of claim 4wherein the towel bar grip portion is through an opening between thehandle grip portion and the removable seat to grip the towel bar gripportion.
 6. The rail and carrier system of claim 5 wherein a spanbetween the handle grip portion and the towel bar grip portion isbetween 60 and 80 mm.
 7. The rail and carrier system of claim 6 whereinthe span between the handle grip portion and the towel bar grip portionis between 60 and 70 mm.
 8. The rail and carrier system of claim 6wherein a force required to actuate the spring-loaded lock by grippingthe towel bar grip portion is between 53 and 70 N.
 9. The rail andcarrier system of claim 8 wherein the force required to actuate thespring-loaded lock by gripping the towel bar grip portion is between 61and 62 N.
 10. A removable seat of a motor vehicle, comprising: first andsecond cross brackets laterally spaced apart and arranged perpendicularto first and second upper rails located in a floor of the motor vehicle,the first and second cross brackets being connected to the first andsecond upper rails; a cover connected to and extending between the firstand second cross brackets; a handle extending laterally outward from thecover; a spring-loaded lock that holds the first upper rail in placewith one of a first lower rail and second lower rail the floor; and atowel bar that releases the lock, enabling the first and second upperrails to slide within the first and second lower rails.
 11. Theremovable seat of claim 10 wherein the handle comprises: a handle gripportion having a first end and a second end; and first and secondattachment portions that extend from the first end and the second end ofthe grip portion to attach the grip portion to the cover.
 12. Theremovable seat of claim 11 wherein the towel bar comprises: a towel bargrip portion having a first end and a second end; a first perpendicularbar extending laterally inward from the first end of the towel bar grip;a second perpendicular bar extending laterally inward from the secondend of the towel bar grip; and wherein the first perpendicular bar andsecond perpendicular bar actuate the spring-loaded lock to when thetowel bar grip is gripped upward and outward.
 13. The removable seat ofclaim 12 wherein the towel bar grip portion is accessible under thehandle grip portion.
 14. The removable seat of claim 13 wherein thetowel bar grip portion is through an opening between the handle gripportion and the removable seat to grip the towel bar grip portion. 15.The removable seat of claim 14 wherein a span between the handle gripportion and the towel bar grip portion is between 60 and 80 mm.
 16. Theremovable seat of claim 15 wherein the span between the handle gripportion and the towel bar grip portion is between 60 and 70 mm.
 17. Theremovable seat of claim 15 wherein a force required to actuate thespring-loaded lock by gripping the towel bar grip portion is between 53and 70 N.
 18. The removable seat of claim 17 wherein the force requiredto actuate the spring-loaded lock by gripping the towel bar grip portionis between 61 and 62 N.